Wednesday, November 25, 2009

When one thinks of Maine around the holiday season, he/she cannot help but think of...you guessed it: Christmas trees! Maine is well known for their abundance of beautiful Christmas trees. However, one does not often consider how these trees are transported from Maine to other places. This, ladies and gentleman, is how it works. This picture was taken on I-95. It's hard to say if these trees were being transported out of state or just to more southern areas of the state, but this is how they were carried. Take note of how packed the truck is, which wouldn't be that much of a problem if the truck had a BACK TO IT, or even more importantly, if it wasn't so filled beyond capacity that the entire load was tilted to the right, being held in by mere pieces of plywood. Yes, we were behind this monstrosity for a significant period of time, and yes, we were hit in the windshield with pine needles and branches. C'est la vie.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Let's start this next one out with a story, shall we? One day I was minding my business, just doing my job, which is to promote and affect oral health, when a lovely hygienist I work with asked me to come back to her room to do an exam on her patient. As I concluded my examination I asked this patient if he had any questions I might answer, as is customary in every exam that I do. The patient replied with, "Do you know where I can find a tobacco shop?" I looked at the man quizzically and asked, "Seriously? Did you really just ask your dentist where you can get tobacco?" The man laughed and claimed it wasn't for him, but rather as a gift he'd like to give someone. Never one to deny someone information, I informed the man that there were indeed several local tobacco shops along Lisbon street which I see every day on my drive to work, but that I would not recommend purchasing said tobacco.

Ok fast forward a few weeks...On my drive into work I noticed this sign in front of one of the local tobacco shops I previously mentioned. I had to take this picture while driving so please forgive the angle and distortion:

That's right...it says: "Guess what's new with nicotine?" Personally, unless it's no longer addictive, doesn't constrict your blood vessels and is no longer included in cigarettes I really have no interest...